Carbonate matrix acidization extends a well's effective drainage radius by dissolving rock and forming conductive channels (wormholes) from the wellbore. Wormholing is a dynamic process that involves balance between the acid injection rate and reaction rate. Generally, injection rate is well defined where injection profiles can be controlled, whereas the reaction rate can be difficult to obtain due to its complex dependency on interstitial velocity, fluid composition, rock surface properties etc.
Conventional wormhole propagation models largely ignore the impact of reaction products. When implemented in a job design, the significant errors can result in treatment fluid schedule, rate, and volume.
A more accurate method to simulate carbonate matrix acid treatments would accomodate the effect of reaction products on reaction kinetics. It is the purpose of this work to properly account for these effects. This is an important step in achieving quantitative predictability of wormhole penetration during an acidzing treatment.
This paper describes the laboratory procedures taken to obtain the reaction-product impacted kinetics at downhole conditions using a rotating disk apparatus, and how this new set of kinetics data was implemented in a 3D wormholing model to predict wormhole morphology and penetration velocity. The model explains some of the differences in wormhole morphology observed in limestone core flow experiments where injection pressure impacts the mass transfer of hydrogen ions to the rock surface. The model uses a CT scan rendered porosity field to capture the finer details of the rock fabric and then simulates the fluid flow through the rock coupled with reactions. Such a validated model can serve as a base to scale up to near wellbore reservoir and 3D radial flow geometry allowing a more quantitative acid treatment design.

Citation:

Qiu X, Zhao W, Chang F, Dyer S (2013) Quantitative Modeling of Acid Wormholing in Carbonates- What Are the Gaps to Bridge. SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/164245-ms.

The authors would like to thank Jamaliah Abu’Rabie – PhD student of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) for much of the reaction kinetics experimentation used in this study as part of a summer internship program, and Mohammed Abdul Muqtadir of Schlumberger’s Dhahran Research Center for all aspects of the experimentation, core flow and reaction kinetics. Additional aknowledgements go to Sarmad Khan and his supervisor, Dr Abdullah Sultan of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) for assisting in the experimentation and core CT scanning.

Qiu X, Zhao W, Chang F, Dyer S (2013) Quantitative Modeling of Acid Wormholing in Carbonates- What Are the Gaps to Bridge. SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/164245-ms.

en

dc.identifier.doi

10.2118/164245-ms

en

dc.identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10754/599427

en

dc.description.abstract

Carbonate matrix acidization extends a well's effective drainage radius by dissolving rock and forming conductive channels (wormholes) from the wellbore. Wormholing is a dynamic process that involves balance between the acid injection rate and reaction rate. Generally, injection rate is well defined where injection profiles can be controlled, whereas the reaction rate can be difficult to obtain due to its complex dependency on interstitial velocity, fluid composition, rock surface properties etc.
Conventional wormhole propagation models largely ignore the impact of reaction products. When implemented in a job design, the significant errors can result in treatment fluid schedule, rate, and volume.
A more accurate method to simulate carbonate matrix acid treatments would accomodate the effect of reaction products on reaction kinetics. It is the purpose of this work to properly account for these effects. This is an important step in achieving quantitative predictability of wormhole penetration during an acidzing treatment.
This paper describes the laboratory procedures taken to obtain the reaction-product impacted kinetics at downhole conditions using a rotating disk apparatus, and how this new set of kinetics data was implemented in a 3D wormholing model to predict wormhole morphology and penetration velocity. The model explains some of the differences in wormhole morphology observed in limestone core flow experiments where injection pressure impacts the mass transfer of hydrogen ions to the rock surface. The model uses a CT scan rendered porosity field to capture the finer details of the rock fabric and then simulates the fluid flow through the rock coupled with reactions. Such a validated model can serve as a base to scale up to near wellbore reservoir and 3D radial flow geometry allowing a more quantitative acid treatment design.

en

dc.description.sponsorship

The authors would like to thank Jamaliah Abu’Rabie – PhD student of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) for much of the reaction kinetics experimentation used in this study as part of a summer internship program, and Mohammed Abdul Muqtadir of Schlumberger’s Dhahran Research Center for all aspects of the experimentation, core flow and reaction kinetics. Additional aknowledgements go to Sarmad Khan and his supervisor, Dr Abdullah Sultan of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) for assisting in the experimentation and core CT scanning.

en

dc.publisher

Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)

en

dc.title

Quantitative Modeling of Acid Wormholing in Carbonates- What Are the Gaps to Bridge

en

dc.type

Conference Paper

en

dc.identifier.journal

SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference

en

dc.contributor.institution

Schlumberger Middle East SA.

en

dc.contributor.institution

Schlumberger

en

All Items in KAUST are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.